New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows first-year persistence and retention have reached decade highs. For students who first enrolled in fall 2024, 85.8% returned for their second semester, and 77.1% persisted into the following fall term—up from 76.8% and described as the highest level seen in a decade. The report also highlights year-over-year gains for key groups, including Black and Hispanic students, with their persistence rates returning to the highest observed levels in the past decade. Two-thirds of Hispanic students (66.9%) returned to their original college in fall 2025, while 59.6% of Black students did so. While overall momentum improves, gaps persist across student groups, including lower persistence for some racial and ethnic populations and differences by major. For institutional planning, the data suggests early first-year connection remains strengthening, but the next policy and practice challenge is sustaining progress through transition points and supporting groups with persistent lower retention rates.